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Latauro Flips for the Ozploitation Doc NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD!
Beaks here...
What's this? A feature-length documentary about the Ozsploitation movement of the 70s and 80s (which dovetailed with the more respectable Australian New Wave)? Count me in. I remember when The Movie Channel used to run films like ROADGAMES, MAD DOG MORGAN, THE ODD ANGRY SHOT, ESCAPE 2000 (aka TURKEY SHOOT) and RAZORBACK in heavy rotation. I was fascinated by the spooky, otherworldly look of the Australian outback, and the ridiculously macho swagger of the male leads (and, shit, some of the women, too). At their best, these movies operated on a visceral, almost primal level that eluded American trash cinema.
So I'm all for anything that might raise the profile of Brian Trenchard-Smith (technically a Brit, but the man behind ESCAPE 2000, BMX BANDITS and THE QUEST - and, yes, STUNT ROCK) or, in particular, the late Richard Franklin (whose PSYCHO II seems to finally be recognized as a fine film in its own right). Here's our pal Latauro with an ecstatic review...
Initially, I was going to wait until my slightly overdue column to review this, but having seen it this morning, I realise it cannot wait.
NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD is a documentary about Ozploitation films. It's about to premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival. It's a prime example of everything a documentary should be.
I'm not sure how to feel after seeing this film, as I never fully understood how gaping the hole in my knowledge of my own country's cinema actually was. I'd heard of most of the films mentioned here, but I hadn't seen many of them. This is partly because I wasn't born at the right time to see them, partly because most of them aren't available on any format, but mostly because these films just don't get talked about the way classic trash of, say, America does. Also compounding my ignorance is the fact that Quentin Tarantino seems to know just about everything about Australian cinema, as he features quite prominently (and, oddly, quite appropriately) in the film.
The film is directed by Mark Hartly, who should be able to write his own ticket after this. It basically covers the period in Australian cinema (from about the 60s/70s onwards) where films were pushing the boundaries of sex and violence and exploitative content. Almost every single person involved in these films is interviewed, as well as many of the major critics, and yet nothing feels rushed. It's got a breakneck pace to it, but it knows exactly what to do with it.
Included in the many interviews is the late Richard Franklin, who passed away soon after filming his part for the doco; Barry Humphries (aka Dame Edna), who has some of the best and most insightful one-liners; and the afore-mentioned Tarantino, whose encyclopaediac knowledge of films that most Australians have never heard of is very impressive. His inclusion isn't as unnecessary as you may think. Greg McLean (who's also in this) was famously having trouble getting funding together for WOLF CREEK because he wanted to cast John Jarrat. Tarantino, in the country to promote KILL BILL, happened to mention that his favourite Aussie actor was Jarrat, and started reeling off all the films he'd done. Soon after, WOLF CREEK was green lit. Seeing both of these guys talking about these films, alongside the guys who made them such as Brian Trenchard-Smith and Everett De Roche, gives us every angle we could want on these.
My only criticism? It ends. Had the film been twice as long, I doubt anyone in the audience would have complained. It's just that good.
But it's not simply entertaining. It's essential viewing. It necessarily contains the nudity, sex and violence that it discusses, and this will probably garner it a high rating. Even so, I hope this somehow manages to get an exemption from classification, as it should be shown to every high school media student, every uni film student, and, well, anybody in this country. And, really, any other.
It is a perfect film, and, regardless of your country, if you consider yourself a fan of film, you simply must see it.
Peace out,
Latauro
AICNDownunder@hotmail.com
Initially, I was going to wait until my slightly overdue column to review this, but having seen it this morning, I realise it cannot wait.
NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD is a documentary about Ozploitation films. It's about to premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival. It's a prime example of everything a documentary should be.
I'm not sure how to feel after seeing this film, as I never fully understood how gaping the hole in my knowledge of my own country's cinema actually was. I'd heard of most of the films mentioned here, but I hadn't seen many of them. This is partly because I wasn't born at the right time to see them, partly because most of them aren't available on any format, but mostly because these films just don't get talked about the way classic trash of, say, America does. Also compounding my ignorance is the fact that Quentin Tarantino seems to know just about everything about Australian cinema, as he features quite prominently (and, oddly, quite appropriately) in the film.
The film is directed by Mark Hartly, who should be able to write his own ticket after this. It basically covers the period in Australian cinema (from about the 60s/70s onwards) where films were pushing the boundaries of sex and violence and exploitative content. Almost every single person involved in these films is interviewed, as well as many of the major critics, and yet nothing feels rushed. It's got a breakneck pace to it, but it knows exactly what to do with it.
Included in the many interviews is the late Richard Franklin, who passed away soon after filming his part for the doco; Barry Humphries (aka Dame Edna), who has some of the best and most insightful one-liners; and the afore-mentioned Tarantino, whose encyclopaediac knowledge of films that most Australians have never heard of is very impressive. His inclusion isn't as unnecessary as you may think. Greg McLean (who's also in this) was famously having trouble getting funding together for WOLF CREEK because he wanted to cast John Jarrat. Tarantino, in the country to promote KILL BILL, happened to mention that his favourite Aussie actor was Jarrat, and started reeling off all the films he'd done. Soon after, WOLF CREEK was green lit. Seeing both of these guys talking about these films, alongside the guys who made them such as Brian Trenchard-Smith and Everett De Roche, gives us every angle we could want on these.
My only criticism? It ends. Had the film been twice as long, I doubt anyone in the audience would have complained. It's just that good.
But it's not simply entertaining. It's essential viewing. It necessarily contains the nudity, sex and violence that it discusses, and this will probably garner it a high rating. Even so, I hope this somehow manages to get an exemption from classification, as it should be shown to every high school media student, every uni film student, and, well, anybody in this country. And, really, any other.
It is a perfect film, and, regardless of your country, if you consider yourself a fan of film, you simply must see it.
Peace out,
Latauro
AICNDownunder@hotmail.com
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+ Expand All
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...doubt i will see it but who knows.
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...not at all my intent, but simply that I don't quite how a documentary about trash makes something into art. Seriously, if it were about american crap films it would still be touted as the best thing since sliced bread even though it is about crap films. I really don't understand the mentality that things become so bad they are good. Sure MST3K is fine for a laugh every now and then, but to celebrate bad cinema as essential viewing? No thank you.
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I searched for it--couldn't find a thing
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These films are classics, not 'crap'!
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Never heard of "Ozsploitation," but it would be interesting to get caught up. That being said, I'm not sure I'm on board with the celebration of "classic trash," American or otherwise. Does anyone else find it ironic that we decry so many of the dumb films made today, even as we lionize truly awful films made years ago? Future generations of film geeks will revel in today's garbage. Hell, you can already see it happening with relatively recent junk like "Deep Blue Sea."
balconyfool.wordpress.com -
I'm aware THE ODD ANGRY SHOT doesn't qualify as Ozploitation. But all those movies (including the good stuff from Noyce, Weir, Beresford, Schepisi, etc.) kinda blend together in my memory.
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I remember liking PATRICK, too.
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... anyone has ever heard of THE ODD ANGRY SHOT. ;)
balconyfool.wordpress.com -
...well obviously he is a man in possession of multiple beaks.
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Thanks for the tip ;)
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...that is exactly what I fear as well. some self-righteous film geek of tomorrow will have watched a bunch of bad movies of today, and declare them to be false idols, thus making documentaries about Ang Lee's Hulk, Elektra, Indy 4, and many many more. For instance the celebration of grindhouse flicks is humorous once, but the actual desire to revamp the genre? That's absolutely fucking ridiculous. This is how shit movies like the EPIC movie, SCARY movie, etc, American Pie presents..., NAtional Lampoon presents..., Pink Panther with Steve Martin, etc and more get made, and with celebration of crap they will be resurrected in 20 years as the penultimate cinema of our time.
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do we get the adventures of barry mckenzie? seriously i do wonder about tarintios alleged knowledge of aussie film. talking about yabbos (yobos). claiming that every bad guy drinks xxxx beer (only the queenslanders - so yes in southern films the bad guys drink 4x) and also i do recommend the odd angry shot people either a)interested in the vietnam war or b) interested in well constructed wanking machines
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if you like films in which the outback is a haunting character you can't go past 'the proposition' it will be the aussie film of the decade (chopper is good too) if anyone was ever interested in australia or international film they have to see this film. over here we have going on what is called the 'history wars', an orwellian attempt to control australian history. the proposition is a fantastic portrayal of our middle history. the period that lawson described thus 'But now that we have made the land, A garden full of promise,
Old Greed must crook 'is dirty hand
And come ter take it from us. -
Then he disappeared. Now he's back. I for one welcome him as a breath of fresh air. Shit, at least he's not Merrick, or that useless fuckwit Monki. And you've got to respect anyone that's a big fan of the deliverer of the best line in Trading Places. I love the way he tells that woman waiting to use the phone to fuck off.
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Jul 10, 2008 11:10:19 PM CDT
yeah i remember beaks submitting reviews a few years ago...
by blckmgk13
...what am I supposed to say more?
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...here's a review from 2001. http://www.ainti tcool.co m/no de/8190
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http://www.aintitcool.com/node/7721
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...stuff like his hard on for Love Guru make me doubt him, otherwise I am pretty consistent with liking stuff from Massa, Quint and Beaks. Which is why I don't quite understand this random "where did Beaks come from stuff". And despite this one thing which I don't agree with Beaks is pretty damn consistent.
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many theaters are gonna be pulling all nighters....no, not just 3 am shows...but 6 am shows....breakfast with the bats...oh, and if you perchance get to see the bats on the awesome imax screen, you shall be rewarded for your extra caishe...cuz you will be treated to the harry potter teaser...btw, ive seen emma's hey nanny nanny, and it aint hairy at all
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Jul 11, 2008 7:48:15 AM CDT
"that most Australians have never heard of"...bullshit!
by sledge hammer
Don't confuse your own lack of knowledge with what "most australians" know, as most australians, particularly most australian film fans, know a hell of a lot more about these films than, well, you apparently. Any australians who lived through the age of drive ins and/or the age of video knows these films all too well. Anyway I've been looking forward to this doco, I'll definitely check it out when it hits.
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"Ozploitation" is just another made up bullshit term than nobody really uses outside of a small handful of people who desperately want it to catch on. Which it hasn't, and won't. Even more so given the fact that "ozploitation" apparently encapsulates 90% of all australian films made between the 60's through to the late 80's, depending on who you talk to. Basically it's just a bullshit catch all wannabe term to describe low budget australian films, and given that 90% of all Australian films during that era were of extremely low budget by their very nature, then that's all rather redundant really.
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i thought that was just an american thing...who knew??
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I bought my ticket to the premiere of this. Check out the full trailer; I'm fully fucking psyched for it!! http://tinyurl.com/6aw2xw
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Film movements are generally only recognised after their time. The Ozploitation tag -- though a little coy and non-specific -- is perfectly legitimate. And most Australians know more about film than I do, do they? Because I hadn't heard of Dead End Drive In? Go on, take a poll of Australians and see how many people know of that one, or even any of the many other Ozploitation films that I had actually heard of. Tell you what, I won't confuse my "lack of knowledge with what most australians know" if you don't confuse your apparently extensively infallible encyclopaedic knowledge with, well, what most Australians know.
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